Kyoto University Researchers Create Viable Oocytes from Stem Cells

Oct. 4, 2012

After many failed attempts, researchers in Japan report success in mouse stem cell-derived oocytes in Science. Dr. Mitinori Saitu’s laboratory at Kyoto University reprogrammed embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells into primordial germ cells (PGCs). They then added the PGCs to isolated ovary tissue in a dish to fully mature. The cells were fertilized and then transplanted the embryos into female mice, which produced viable offspring. These findings may lead to further studies into meiosis and gene silencing in gametogenesis.